Ever wonder why so many actors wait tables between auditions? As it turns out, the cost of acting school can be pretty steep, meaning that Hollywood dreams often come with Hollywood-sized price tags. In this guide, we’ll take a look at what different acting programs cost—from major universities down to one-on-one lessons. Whatever path you choose, you’ll likely want to start saving now.
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For the 2023–2024 academic year, the average tuition for an undergraduate college acting program was $36,355 for out-of-state tuition or $11,712 for in-state tuition, according to College Tuition Compare. These numbers are affected by factors like location and the type of school and program you attend.
Location
Traveling away from your hometown to chase your acting dreams is a romantic idea, but location is one of the most important variables contributing to the cost of any school. On top of tuition, if you decide to live off campus, you will likely face higher housing costs, regardless of where you attend acting school.
While there are many prestigious programs centered in and around New York and Los Angeles, these cities have some of the highest rental costs in the country—the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $2,328 for NYC and $2,358 for L.A., according to a 2024 Construction Coverage report. Once you leave those hot spots, places like Pittsburgh—home to Carnegie Mellon University and its prestigious School of Drama—seem like a bargain with average rents for a one-bedroom apartment around $1,399; but then you lose direct access to a higher number of theater, film, and television productions located in bigger cities.
Private education vs. public education
There’s a huge price difference between public and private schools—and tuition at public schools typically depends on if you’re a resident of the state. A 2024 Education Data report found that the average annual in-state tuition for an undergraduate degree at a public school is $9,750, compared with $28,297 if you're a student from out of state. Tuition ballooned up to $38,421 annually for a private institution.
State universities are typically less expensive, even if you’re an out-of-state student (but it does make sense to try and become a resident, if possible.) For example, for the 2024-2025 school year, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) runs $15,154 for in-state residents, and $49,354 for out-of-state students. That’s a hefty fee until you compare that number to the top-ranked private schools, such as Carnegie Mellon ($67,020), Brown University ($65,656), or NYU-Tisch School of the Arts ($68,978).
Traditional college vs. acting conservatory
Beyond the traditional four-year colleges and universities offering acting programs, there is the option to enroll in an acting conservatory. Essentially, these programs are fully devoted to teaching a career in the arts, from learning the specifics of the craft to the business of being an actor. There are numerous factors to consider before committing to a conservatory—the varying time commitments, the lack of a rounded education—but first and foremost is the cost.
For a sample of what to expect, here are tuition estimates for some of the top acting conservatories in the country:
- The Juilliard School: $55,000
- The American Academy of Dramatic Arts: $41,100
- The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts: $36,850
- The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (1-year program): $21,510
- New York Film Academy: $32,250
- Stella Adler Academy of Acting & Theatre (2-year program): $38,800
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There is always, of course, the option to take individual acting classes or hire a coach for a more personal, one-on-one experience. There are numerous benefits to going this route; you have far more control of the timing and duration of your training, as well as how much each session will cost you.
In general, in-person acting classes cost between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars, a number that varies greatly depending on location, size of the class, and reputation of the educator. Group acting lessons typically run between $30 to $90 per hour in Los Angeles and New York City. Outside of those major markets, that range mostly holds. For example, in Atlanta, Drama Inc. holds six-week on-camera basics courses for $475, and the Portland Actors Conservatory in Oregon runs a six-week scene study course for $225.
One benefit of choosing lessons à la carte is that you can be hyper-specific about what you want to learn. Aspiring comedy actors, for example, can take improv courses at the Upright Citizens Brigade (in both L.A. and NYC) for $500 for eight classes. The Groundlings Theater and School in L.A. offers improv workshops as well, costing $365 for six sessions. The Acting Studio has a variety of specific acting classes in NYC, including Monologue Audition ($385 for eight weeks), Singing for Actors ($270 for six weeks) or Stage Violence ($350 for eight weeks). At Margie Haber Studio in Los Angeles, you can learn from Haber, author of “How to Get the Part…Without Falling Apart,” at a two-week acting intensive ($2,800), among other in-person and online classes available to actors at all levels.
Online acting classes can cost up to $1,000 per course, depending on teacher skill level and reputation, type of class, and other variables. For instance, the Performing Arts Industry Essentials course at NYU-Tisch costs $999; an Acting Technique Six-Week Intensive at L.A.’s Howard Fine Acting Studio costs $945; and a MasterClass membership (which grants access to multiple acting class genres taught by legendary performers like Helen Mirren and Samuel L. Jackson) rings in at $10/month.
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For an additional touch of personalization, consider hiring an acting coach. According to T. Schreiber Studio in New York, the typical cost for an acting coach is between $50 to $300 per hour, but T. Schreiber itself charges $80 to $180 for private lessons. Elisa Eliot’s Acting Studio charges between $200 and $250 per hour for private coaching in L.A., while NYC’s Acting Studio charges $95 per hour.
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There is also the endless beneficial power of the internet. Social media and education sites are full of tips, tricks, and advice that are just a keystroke away. Scroll through the acting challenges on TikTok to practice performing, or search “acting lessons” on YouTube. We also offer advice and resources for anyone interested in honing their craft, including guides to:
- The best body language exercises for actors, to get you in tune with your instrument
- The definitive guide to the Stella Adler technique, for actors who want to fully imagine their character’s world
- A rundown of Viola Spolin’s Theater Games, for anyone aspiring to join the world of improv theater
- An introduction to Michael Chekhov’s technique, to better understand a “psycho-physical” approach to acting